Paper machinery



March 8, 1955 R. J. JACOBS PAPER MACHINERY 2 Sheets-Shee 1 Filed April20. 1951 IN VEN TOR.

QBEW J. Mews 3 m w. 0 T T A March 8, 1955 R. J. JACOBS #03 81 PAPERMACHINERY Filed April 20. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY ROBERT J. Mews r f I ll L 3% 518 6:0 :6, w hw ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent PAPER MACHINERY Robert J. Jacobs, Fulton, N. Y., assignor to TheBlack- Cfirwson Company, Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of 0 ioApplication April 20, 1951, Serial No. 221,981

8 Claims. (Cl. 242-58) This invention relates to apparatus and a methodfor continuously unwinding rolls of paper and other web materials, andthe invention has special application to apparatus and a method forhandling and supporting relatively small rolls of such web materials fora continuous unwinding operation in which successive rolls are unwoundinto a continuous web by splicing the leading end of successive fullrolls to a trailing portion of the web from the next preceding roll.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an unwindstand or roll changer for unwinding successive rolls of web materialwhich is of simple but rugged construction adapted for economicalproduction,

which is operable to move each successive roll into unwinding positionin timed relation with the unwinding'of the next preceding roll forcontinuous unwinding, and which incorporates a driving drum arranged tooperate both as the driving element for bringing each successive fullroll up to unwinding speed and continuing rotation thereof and also asthe support for the web from each successive expiring roll as the nextfull roll is spliced thereto.

The invention accordingly provides an unwind stand or roll changer inwhich a driving drum is mounted within a reel for supporting thesuccessive rolls for unwinding. This reel includes a plurality ofangularly spaced yoke arms for receiving the ends of the core shaftprojecting from the rolls to support the rolls for movement around thedrum. These arms are arranged in such spaced relation that when one setof arms is in generally upright unwinding position to support the rolltherein for unwinding on the upper portion of the drum, the nextsuccessive set of arms is in generally horizontal position to receive afull roll in out-of-contact relation with the drum, and the arms areprovided with means such as detents for maintaining the full roll awayfrom the drum until it is desired to change rolls.

Roll changing is accomplished quickly and easily by rotating the reel inthe direction opposite the rotational direction of the drum so that thearms supporting the full roll move to upright or unwinding position,thus causing the roll therein to be delivered by gravity onto the drumto be brought up to unwinding speed. Adhesive is then applied to the endof the full roll, and the weight of the roll on the drum effects thedesired splice of the gummed end thereof to the web passing over thedrum from the expiring roll. The rotation of the reel also causes thearms carrying the expiring roll to move to a downward or releaseposition and thus cause the spent roll therein to drop away from thedrum for ready severing of the web therefrom, and a knife is mounted inthe frame for effecting this severing operation when the splice iscompleted. The rotational movement of the reel brings another set ofarms into horizontal position behind the-fresh roll being unwound toreceive a new full roll, and thus the unwinding proceeds continuouslywithout manual labor other than is required for replacing the spentcores with full rolls and for applying adhesive to the full roll for thesplice and periodically operating the drive to index the reel asdescribed.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an unwind standor roll changer of simple construction which is semi-automatic inoperation and which therefore is particularly well adapted foreconomical handling of relatively small rolls of paper or other webmaterials for continuous unwinding.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an 2,703,681 PatentedMar. 8, 1955 improved and simple method of unwinding successive rolls ofweb material into a continuous web while maintaining substantiallyuniform controlled tension m the web.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating an unwindstand or roll changer in accordance with the invention, the view beingapproximately as indicated by the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

21is an elevational view looking from right to left in 1g.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are somewhat diagrammatic views illustrating successivestages in a continuous unwinding operation with the roll changer ofFigs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale showing the outer endconstruction of one of the yoke arms on the reel portion of the rollchanger; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a full roll prepared for splicing on theroll changer of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the unwind stand or roll changer includes a pair of endstands 10 and 11 which form the base frame of the device. The reel forsupporting the rolls to be unwound comprises a central shaft 13journaled in the end stands 10 and 11 and having a pair of end members15 pinned or otherwise secured thereto for rotation therewith.Adjustment of the reel laterally may be effected by means of theadjusting screw 16 having a handle 17 which provides a push-pulladjustment of the reel through the nut 18 received within a slot 19 inone end of shaft 13 and provided with a guide dowel 20.

A power drive is provided for rotating the reel 1315 and includes amotor 22, shown as of the gear head type, mounted at a convenientlocation such as on the end stand 10. The motor 22 drives a sprocket 23connected through chain 24 to a sprocket 25 on a stub shaft journaled ina bracket 26 on end frame 10 and carrying a pinion 27 meshing with agear 28 on the shaft 13. It will be noted that the pinion 27 is ofsubstantial axial dimensions for continued meshing engagement with gear28 as the reel is adjusted laterally of the frame as described.

A driving drum 30 is mounted for free rotation on the reel shaft 13between the reel members 15, and the drum is provided with a power driveseparate from the drive for the reel. As shown, a sprocket 32 is securedto the drum and is connected through a chain 33 with a sprocket 34 on ajack shaft 35 journaled in the end stands 10 and 11. The jack shaft 35in turn carries a pulley 36 connected through a belt 37 with a drivepulley 38 operated by any suitable drive, not shown.

Each of the reel end members 15 is formed with a plurality of yoke arms40 for receiving the ends of thecore shaft 41 projecting from theseveral rolls 42 to be unwound. Each member 15 is shown as having threeof these yoke arms 40, each of which includes an elongated slot 43 whichis arranged with its lower end approximately coincident with theperiphery of the drum 30 for receiving the core shaft 41, which may begrooved as shown at 44 in Fig. 7 to fit in guided engagement withinslots 43. At its outer end, each yoke arm 40 is provided with a latchunit comprising a retainer member 45 pivoted to one end of the yoke armand a clamp member 46 carrying a clamp screw 47 and pivoted on the otherend of the arm to fit over the free end of the member 45 to clamp it inlocked position closing the slot 43. As best seen in Fig. 6, theretainer member 45 includes a semi-cylindrical central portion whichforms a bearing for the core shaft 41 in one position of the reel and isprovided with a layer 48 of brake lining or other friction material.

A knife 50 for severing the web from successive expiring rolls ismounted in the frame by means of the longer arm portions 51 of a pair ofbell cranks 52 mounted on a shaft 53 journaled in the end stands 10 and11 and carrying a guide roll 55. The shorter arms 56 of the bell cranks52 are connected by a rod 57 which is in turn connected at its center tothe piston rod 58 of a uni pressure cylinder 60, such as an aircylinder, mounted 111 the frame by means such as a pivoted connection 61to a channel 62 extending across the device between the end stands. Thearrangement of these parts IS such that when pressure is applied to thecylinder 60. the bell cranks52 will be rocked in counterclockwisedirectron as viewed in Fig. l.

e operation of this device for continuous unwinding of success ve rolls42 is illustrated somewhat diagrammahcally In Fig. 1 and Figs. 3 to 5.Fi 3 shows the posit on of the reel while the roll 42:: in the arms 40ais being unwound. As shown. the reel is so positioned that the arms 40aare generally u ri ht to hold the roll fl2a above and in driven contactwith the drum 30. which is rotating in clockwise direction, and the web65 from the roll 42a passes over the drum and downwardlv around theguide roll 55 and a further guide roll 66 to a pair of pull rolls 67shown as driven by the belt 68 from the same drive source 38 as thedrum. Preferably a variab e speed drive is provided at 38 to establish acontrolled ditferential peri heral speed of the ull rolls 67 withrespect to drum 30 as desired to maintain proper tens on in the web.

Fig. 3 also shows the reel so positioned that the arms 40b extendenerally horizontally, and a full roll 42!; is positioned therein in prearation for unwinding. However, In this position of the reel and thearms 40!). the full roll 42b is held out of contact with the drum byeuga ement of the core shaft 41b in notches 70 formed in the tr lingorti n of each yoke arm as best seen in Fi 6. This notch 70 serves as adetent to hold the full roll awav from the drum when the arms areapnroximatelv horizontal and until the arms reach such an angle to thevertical that the weight of the roll will cause t t move out of thenotches. Tt will als be noted in Fi 3 that the arms 40:: in the releaseposition are empty. the spent core shaft previous v therein having beenremoved.

Fig. 4 shows the posi ion of the reel at an intermediate sta e 1nchangin rolls. As shown in Fi 7. the t il of the web on the f ll roll isinsecurely fastened to the remainder of the roll by a plurality of smallpaster tabs 75. When it is desired to chan e rolls. the reel is movedfrom the posi i n shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in ig. causin the fullroll to slip out of the notches 70 and move into driven en a ement withthe drum, hich immed atelv starts it rotati g and brings it up to theproper Ul'lWl 'ldlllI! speed. At the s me time. the ex iring roll 42/!is caused to drop awav from the drum and down to the end of the arms40/1. but since. the roll by this time is relativelv li ht in wei ht. itwill continue to be unwound by the p ll on he web 65. In this positi nof he reel. the c re shaft 41a will rest in the curved bearin por ionsof the retainer members 45 and will be held a ainst overrunnin bv theretarding action of the fricti n material 48. thus preventing possibleaccumulation of loose web material between the roll 42a and the drum andmaintainin we 65 under sufiicient tension for ready severing bv knife50.

When the full ro l has been brought up to speed and is readv for thesplice. the operator indexes the reel to the position shown in Fig. 5and then applies a strip of suitable pressure sensitive adhesive to thetail of the roll. which is readilv done manually by means of a brush ors ray gun as indicated diagrammatically at 77 in Fi 5. The weight of theroll pressing down on the drum as it revolves will then effect a firmsplice of its gummed tail to the web 65 between the full roll and drum,with the result that the paster tabs 75 will break so that the freshroll wi l continue to unwind. Alternatively the splicing operation canbe etfected by applying to the full roll a strip of solvent-actuatedpressure sensitive adhesive as indicated at 80 in Fig. 7, and thenduring splicing instead of applying the adhesive itself to the roll, theo erator may apply a solvent solution to reactivate the adhesive. whichmay readily be done by means of a spray gun, also as indicated at 77 inFig. 5. The selection of the adhesive is in no way critical, andsatisfactory results are obtained utilizing an ordinary water-solubleglue and with water as the sprayed solvent.

As soon as the operator observes that a proper splice has been made ofthe full roll to the web from the expiring roll, he operates thecylinder 60. as by means of a solenoid valve (not shown), to swing theknife as shown in Fig. 5 into cutting engagement with the web.Thereafter the spent core shaft is removed, in order to avoidinterference with the web unwinding from roll 42b and with the knifewhen the reel again has to be moved for changing rolls. At the sametime, with the reel in the position shown in Fig. 5, a full roll may bemounted in the arms 400, where it is retained out of contact with thedrum by the detent notches as described in connection with Fig. 3 untilthe roll 42b has been sufi'iciently unwound to be replaced.

It will accordingly be seen that this roll changer operates simply andetfectively for continuous unwinding of successive rolls of paper orother web material with minimum requirements of personal attention bythe operator. In particular, it should be noted that this roll changerprovides simple and accurate control of the tension in the web at alltimes during both unwinding and splicing. Thus as noted, duringunwinding with the reel in the position shown in Fig. 3 with acontrolled variable speed between the drum and the pull rolls 67, therewill be a constant tension unwinding action, and there will be no lossof tension control during roll changing and splicing with the spliceelfected as described when the new roll has been brought up to theunwinding speed since the elfect of the pull rolls 67 will be maintainedduring the splicing. The device has further advantages in the simplicityof its construction as well as its compact form and comparativelightness in weight, all of which contribute to its particularsuitability for use in handling small rolls and for installations wherespace is at a premium.

While the method and form of apparatus herein described constitutepreferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus,and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An unwind stand for use in continuously unwinding successive rolls ofweb material, comprising a base, a driving drum supported for rotationon said base, a reel mounted for rotation on said base in enclosing andsubstantially coaxial relation with said drum, said reel including aplurality of angularly spaced arms adapted to receive and support saidrolls for movement thereon toward and away from said drum and formovement therewith around said drum, means for rotating said reel in theopposite direction from said drum to move said arms successively from agenerally upright position to a downward position while causing said webunwinding therefrom to travel over the top of said drum, means on saidarms for retaining a full roll thereon, means for effecting gravitydelivery of said full roll into driven engagement with said drum throughsaid unwinding web for splicing thereto in said upright position of saidarms, means for eifecting gravity delivery of a substantially spent rollout of driven engagement with said drum upon movement of said arms tosaid downward position, while causing the web unwinding therefrom tocontinue to travel over the top of said drum and means on said arms forrestraining said spent roll against free rotation in said downwardposition of said arms to maintain the portion of the web between saidsubstantially spent roll and said drum under tension.

2. An unwind stand for use in continuously unwinding successive rolls ofweb material. comprising a base, a driving drum supported for rotationon said base, a reel mounted for rotation on said base in enclosingrelation with said drum, said reel including a plurality of angularlyspaced arms adapted to receive and support said rolls for movementthereon toward and away from said drum and for movement therewith aroundsaid drum, means for rotating said reel in the opposite direction fromsaid drum to move said arms successively from a generally uprightposition to a downward position while causing said web unwindingtherefrom to travel over the top of said drum, means on said arms forretaining a full roll thereon, means for effecting gravity delivery ofsaid full roll into driven engagement with said drum through saidunwinding web for splicing thereto in said upright position of saidarms, means for effecting gravity delivery of a substantially spent rollout of driven engagement with said drum upon movement of said arms tosaid downward position, and means on said base for severing said webfrom said substantially spent roll in said downward position of saidarms.

3. An unwind stand for use in continuously unwinding successive rolls ofweb material each having a core shaft projecting at the ends thereof,comprising a base, a reel mounted for rotation on said base to support aplurality of said rolls to be unwound, a driving drum mounted withinsaid reel for rotation with respect thereto to effect unwinding rotationof successive said rolls in driven contact therewith, said reelincluding a plurality of yoke arms for receiving said core shafts tosupport said rolls, said arms being arranged in angularly spacedrelation such that when one set thereof is upright to support a roll onsaid drum the next preceding set of arms will extend downwardly to causethe roll thereon to drop out of contact with said drum and the nextfollowing set of arms will extend generally horizontally to receive afull roll, a periodically operable drive for rotating said reel in theopposite direction from said drum to move the respective said armssuccessively to each said position for successively bringing said fullroll into driven engagement With said drum while causing thesubstantially spent roll to drop to the lower ends of the downwardlyextending arms, friction means at the outermost ends of said arms forengaging the core shaft of said substantially spent roll in saiddownwardly extending position of said arms to restrain said core againstoverrunning and to maintain tension in the portion of the web from saidsubstantially spent roll between the core thereof and said drum, andmeans on said base for severing said web from said substantially spentroll in said downward position of said arms.

4. An unwind stand for use in continuously unwinding successive rolls ofweb material each having a core shaft projecting at the ends thereof,comprising a base, a reel mounted for rotation on said base to support aplurality of said rolls to be unwound, a driving drum mounted withinsaidreel for rotation in the opposite direction with respect thereto toeffect unwinding rotation of successive said rolls in driven contacttherewith, said reel including three sets of yoke arms arranged inangularly spaced relation to receive said core shafts for supportingsaid rolls, said yoke arms being equally spaced on said reel so thatwhen one set thereof is in generally horizontal position the nextpreceding set will be in generally upright position to support a roll indriven engagement on said drum while the third said set will extenddownwardly to cause the substantially spent roll therein to drop awayfrom said drum, each said yoke arm having a detent therein positioned toretain a full roll out of contact with said drum in said horizontalposition of said arms while providing for movement of said roll intoengagement with said drum as said arms move to an upright position,releasable means at the outer ends of said arms for retaining a coreshaft therein in said downward position of said arms, said retainingmeans having portions forming bearings for said core shafts in thedownward position of said arms, said bearing portions of said retainingmeans including friction material for restraining said core shaftsagainst free rotation to maintain tension in the portion of the webbetween each said spent roll and said drum, and means on said base forsevering said tensioned portion of said web intermediate said spent rolland said drum in said downward position of said arms.

5. Apparatus for continuously unwinding successive rolls of Web materialcomprising a driving drum, means for supporting an unwinding roll formovement generally circumferentially around said drum, means for pullingthe web unwinding from said roll over the upper surface of said drum,means for supporting a full roll adjacent said drum but out of contacttherewith, means for moving said unwinding roll out of engagement withsaid drum while maintaining said web unwinding therefrom traveling overthe upper surface of said drum under tension, means for moving said fullroll onto the upper surface of said drum to accelerate said full roll tothe peripheral speed of said drum while supporting said full roll withsubstantially the full weight thereof pressing against the web passingover said drum from said unwinding roll to splice the tail of said fullroll to said web upon application of adhesive thereto, and means forsevering said tensioned portion of said web following splicing theretoof said full roll.

6. The method of continuously unwinding successive rolls of web materialto produce a continuing traveling web which includes the steps ofsupporting an unwinding roll above a driving drum and in driven contacttherewith, pulling the web unwinding from said roll over the uppersurface of said drum, moving said unwinding roll out of engagement withsaid drum and around said drum in the direction opposite the rotationaldirection of said drum while maintaining the portion of the web betweensaid unwinding roll and said drum under tension, supporting a full rolladjacent said drum, moving said full roll onto the upper surface of saiddrum to accelerate said full roll to the peripheral speed of said drum,splicing the tail of said full roll to said unwinding web whilemaintaining said full roll with substantially the full weight thereofpressing against the web passing over said drum from said unwindingroll, and then severing said tensioned portion of said web.

7. A roll unwinding stand for producing a continuous traveling web whichcomprises a reel having a plurality of pairs of arms for receiving rollsof the material to be unwound, means including a frame mounting saidreel for rotational movement to advance said pairs of arms progressivelyfrom a fresh roll receiving position to an unwinding position and thento an empty roll releasing position, a drum rotatably mounted on saidframe substantially coaxial with said reel, means for driving said drumin the opposite direction from said rotational movement of said reel,means operable in said fresh roll receiving position of each successivesaid pair of arms for receiving and retaining a fresh roll, meansoperable during movement of a first pair of said arms from the unwindingposition to the release position thereof and simultaneous movement of anadjacent said pair of arms to the unwinding position thereof for guidingthe web unwinding from the roll in said first pair of arms between saiddrum and a fresh roll in said adjacent pair of arms, means operable inthe unwinding position of said adjacent pair of arms for bringing theroll therein into driving contact with said drum through said unwindingweb for splicing thereto, and means operable in the release position ofsaid pairs of arms for releasing the successive empty rolls carriedthereby.

8. A roll unwinding stand, for producing a continuous traveling webwhich comprises a reel having a plurality of pairs of arms for receivingrolls of the material to be unwound, a drum rotatably mountedsubstantially coaxially with said reel, means including a frame mountingsaid reel for rotatational movement to advance said pairs of armsprogressively from a fresh roll receiving position on one side of saiddrum to an unwinding position above the axis of said drum and then to anempty roll releasing position below said drum axis, means for drivingsaid drum in the opposite direction from said rotational movement ofsaid reel, means operable in said fresh roll receiving position of eachsaid pair of arms for receiving and retaining a fresh roll, meansoperable in the unwinding position of each said pair of arms forbringing the roll in that position into driving contact with said drum,pull rolls spaced from said drum for receiving and advancing said web,means for driving said pull rolls at a predetermined higher peripheralspeed from said drum to maintain tension in said web, means for guidingsaid web from a roll in the release position of one said pair of armsover said drum to said pull rolls to provide for splicing thereto ofsaid fresh roll in the unwinding position of another said pair of arms,and means operable in the release position of said pairs of arms forreleasing the empty roll therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,085,907 Hoe Feb. 3, 1914 1,402,989 Wood Jan. 10, 1922 1,613,963 ScottJan. 11, 1927 1,633,595 Liebeck June 28, 1927 1,699,928 Stone Jan. 22,1929 1,722,508 Stone July 30, 1929 1,856,341 Kohler May 3, 19321,885,262 Horton Nov. 1, 1932 2,047,813 Wood July 14, 1936 2,117,676Patitz May 17, 1938 2,182,760 Horton Dec. 5, 1939 2,334,160 Caffrey Nov.16, 1943 2,486,006 Clem Oct. 25, 1949

